you be the judge

Yo, I speak at schools a lot cause they say I'm intelligent
Nervous cause I'm dope, if I was wack I'd be irrelevant
I'm like the dope in your tracks until your high is settled in
You leanin' to the left, the laughter's the best medicine
But the troubles you have today you just can't laugh away
Stay optimistic, they can change, it's gon' come like Donny Hathaway
You have to pray, on top of that, act today
Cuz opportunity shrivel away like Tom Hanks in "Cast Away"
Everybody pass away, the past will pay, the family mournin'
Everybody act accordin' to the season that they born in
You fight in the streets, start bleedin' 'til the blood is pourin'
In the gutter, mothers cry 'til the Lord be livin' by the sword and
All that folks want is safety, they goin' gun crazy
The same reason Reagan was playin' war games in the '80s
The same reason I've always rocked dog chains on my babies
The struggle is beautiful, I'm too strong for you to slave me

Talib Kweli (Beautiful Struggle)


I need to get your opinion about something. I know that you have good taste in members of the opposite sex. Vibe with me on this one...

I know a dude named Pat. Real cool brutha. He's tall, smart, and women find him very attractive. Pat is in his mid 30s. He's single and doesn't have any kids. He graduated from a well known midwestern college. Sounds good so far, right? Here's the problem...he doesn't work! It's not that he's unemployed and looking for work. No. He's not looking to work! He hasn't worked since graduating college in the late 90s. He lives in the "family home" in his own wing. He has "dabbled" in the music industry as an artist but he has no steady job. Despite all of this, he's constantly being showered with gifts and trips from women. I just got an email from him the other day. He's in Paris with a female. You know me...I give props to everybody. I'm not mad at the "pimp" moves. I just have to know from y'all (especially the single ladies of the blog crew)...is he a good catch to make your mate???

I have another friend. Her name is Shywon. She's single with no kids. She doesn't have a degree but she is taking classes. She's real cool and down to earth. She's a dimepiece. I mean she is drop dead gorgeous. She lives at home with her mom despite the fact that she'll be turning 30 later this year. She doesn't make a lotta money but she goes out a lot. Normally, guys will pay for her dinner or a night on the town. She doesn't sleep around but she will "milk" you financially if you let her. Her goal is to be a model! She has done some modeling in her past.

I'm not one who wants to step on anyone's dream but I think the window maybe closing on the idea of being a model. As a friend, I won't tell her that. Nevertheless, she's more concerned with "getting by with her beauty" than being focused on school or a career. Here's the question...is she a good catch to make your mate?

You be the judge!

Hollatchaboi!